The Jewish Federation of Cleveland raised $1,119,103 during its Super Sunday fundraiser Oct. 29, where almost 1,000 people turned out to make donation phone calls at the Federation’s Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel building in Beachwood.

Although Ben Miller, 13, has studied Israel while attending the Joseph and Florence Mandel Jewish Day School in Beachwood, and anticipated visiting, he likely didn’t imagine his first trip would include his family playing a basketball game with about 10 soldiers from the Israel Defense Forces.

Our Jewish Cleveland story began about three years ago. We moved back to Northeast Ohio and were eager enough to get in touch with the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s Young Leadership Division (YLD) Director, Jessie Bruder.

Some call baby boomers the sandwich generation because they are caring for both parents and children. Similarly, many baby boomers are sandwiched between inheriting assets or family businesses and planning for future distributions of their own assets or transferring of the family business.

The path of discovering Judaism for Alex Sweeney of Mentor began as a child. “I really didn’t have a Jewish identity; we celebrated some holidays, but it wasn’t anything consistent. My grandfather always talked about being Jewish. I remember learning about the Holocaust, but not thinking that really happened to my people.”

Bernie, a long-time Campaigner, got his start as chair of the Federation's attorneys' division. Find out why Bernie enjoys giving back to our Cleveland Jewish community and doing his part in the Campaign for Jewish Needs.